Dec

30

As the year and the decade draw to an end, success is a topic on most people’s minds.

In 1,000 True Fans, Kevin Kelly develops a marketing paradigm for artists of all types, including musicians.

A True Fan is defined as someone who will purchase anything and everything you produce. They will drive 200 miles to see you sing. They will buy the super deluxe re-issued hi-res box set of your stuff even though they have the low-res version.

Focus on connecting with people. Convert 1,000 lesser fans into true fans, which is all you need to earn a living.

In First, organize 1,000, Seth Godin generalizes the model and applies it to politics and business, “1,000 people voting as a bloc can change local politics forever. 1,000 people willing to try a new restaurant you find for them gives you the ability to make an entrepreneur successful and change the landscape of your town.”

Again, the focus is on connecting with people, “You don’t find customers for your products. You find products for your customers.”

Connecting with People through Social Media

I can write an article or post a link that sparks a public conversation. Some remarks can then lead to private discussions via direct messages, email or telephone. If I help somebody or solve a problem, I now have a true fan.

Why 1,000 True Fans?

Don’t attach importance to one thousand. 1,000 is a round number, chosen arbitrarily, to take the number of fans or customers needed to earn a good living — which is fairly abstract — and make it more concrete.

Unfortunately, the emphasis on 1,000 true fans might lead us to “see the forest for the trees” but to lose sight of each individual tree. However, each individual we touch is, somewhat paradoxically, as important as the overall group.

Impact the life of even one true fan, and you have achieved a measure of success.

Real Social Media Success

The changes made possible by technology and social media in the ways we communicate and conduct business have been phenomenal. How glorious it would be if we could witness corresponding improvements in the human condition.

Sadly, the opposite is true. Technology and social media are used for evil as well as good, and our world and its peoples continue to have little respite from their fear, pain and suffering.

Our world is made up of individuals. We, as individuals, must seek ways to bridge our differences, to heal our conflicts, and to ameliorate our Planet Earth. We, as individuals, must connect with other individuals, through our businesses and otherwise, and help them improve their lives.

It would be super if, in our businesses, we could look beyond the bottom line and use social media to make the globe not only smaller, but kinder, saner and safer as well.

Count me in, Larry, as a True Fan . . . of you and Social Media and the opportunity to create the Better World in which we reach success by helping people, rather than stepping over or on top of them.

One of the major reasons that I, personally — as a university marketing lecturer, have been drawn to the socialization of the Web is because of the potential we now have of really putting the Golden Rule into practice: to treat people the way we want to be treated and NOT do unto them as we would NOT have done unto us.

Well said Larry. Social media is about being social. It is about building and nurturing relationships. It is about sharing what is good and helping your community. Through loving our community we build trust.

It is a well known fact that people do business with people they know, like, and trust……social media is the current vehicle that drives our ability to expand our reach far beyond what was possible even a few years ago. There was a time when the biggest fans of your business were limited to those who lived right around the corner, now we can reach people around the world. Adding value to a person’s day will open the door, being transparent may make them a fan, if they learn to trust and like you, in time they will be a true fan.

Well said and I was touched by the message. Love the quote: “You don’t find customers for your products. You find products for your customers.” I always enjoy your postings and wish you a healthy and productive new year.

Larry, great information as always. I was intrigued by the fact that you give out your telephone number. But I can’t remember if I saw it on your blog here, or if it’s on your Facebook page? What has been your most frequent way of connecting with contacts more in-depth? Just curious.

Thanks for this post. I’ve only been blogging five months. I’ve decided to try and make money on-line. I haven’t decided if I want to do so through my blog or through freelance writing.

Of course, I’ve chosen a niche which is relatively small and not many advertisements. But the people are loyal and supportive. Anyway not directly related to your post, but something I’ve been thinking about.

This is the first time that I’ve heard of the “1,000 True Fans” concept. I guess it will be a challenge at first because there are a lot of people in social media sites connecting with you just because they want to increase the number of their friends or followers. If you can find those true fans, then you’re almost set. You gave a great example in using restaurants.

Really enjoyed this post Larry. I have been truly amazed since jumping in on Twitter the number of amazing people I have met and connected with. What is remarkable are that some are geographically close to me and others are around the globe - but thanks to a social network like Twitter I have come to know them, exchanged ideas, and laughed together.

I love your concept of the “true fan”. Thanks for sharing your ideas and keep up the great work on the blog - really enjoying it!

An enjoyable and an inspiring (am i the only one who consider this as such?) post indeed! true fans, most of the time are indeed heartwarming. and in this case here, they are also important to our financial stability.